During the meeting, Magufuli noted that Tanzania has suitable land for sugar plantations, including 10,000 hectare area in Bagamoyo, 75 kilometres (47 miles) north of Dar-es-Salaam on the coast of the Indian Ocean.

Currently (2016), Tanzania produces an average of 300,000t of sugar per year, while the demand is estimated at 590,000t per year, of which 420,000t is for direct domestic consumption and the remaining 170,000t is for industrial use.